Combined UK-French Air Strike Targets IS Arms Cache in the Syrian region

British Air Force Typhoon FGR4s have conducted a mission with French warplanes in a combined operation on an hidden munitions depot in Syria used by the Islamic State group (IS), according to the UK's MoD.

The site, identified by intelligence, was thought to be containing munitions and bombs, the release indicated, and was positioned in mountainous terrain just to the north of the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria's central region.

"Our fighter planes utilized laser-guided Paveway IV weapons to strike a several approach shafts providing entry to the depot... preliminary assessments are that the strike was effective," the ministry announced.

There was no sign of any harm to civilians in the attack late on Saturday and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.

The Typhoon FGR4s were assisted by a Voyager tanker plane.

IS - also known as the so-called Islamic State - imposed militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq prior to its 2019 collapse.

"This strike shows British leadership, and commitment to stand shoulder to shoulder with allied nations, to eliminate any re-emergence of Daesh and their violent and radical beliefs in the area," Britain's Defence Chief the Defence Secretary remarked.

British military aircraft have carried out patrols over Syrian airspace to "forestall any efforts to regroup" of the group after its defeat at the climactic battle in Baghuz in 2019, the authorities noted.

"I extend gratitude to all the members of our armed forces participating in this mission for their professionalism and their valour," Healey added. "They were among thousands of UK service members on duty over the festive period. This operation, to eliminate dangerous terrorists who endanger our safety, shows how UK forces are always on standby, all year round, protecting the UK domestically and powerful internationally."

In December, the American forces conducted what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Daesh sites in the country, subsequent to an assault resulted in the deaths of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.

The U.N. reports IS still has roughly 5-7 thousand combatants in both countries.